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Press Release
15 May 2007
Bowling out AIDS – new partnership to tackle stigma and discrimination
England cricketers today spearheaded the attack to tackle the stigma and
discrimination that people living with HIV in the Caribbean face. A new
partnership between the Government, the
England
and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and
UK
Sport will use the power of sport to educate people about the disease.
Gareth Thomas, International Development Minister, David Collier, Chief Executive of the ECB and John Scott, International Director at UK Sport, were joined by international cricketer Ian Bell, and announced the details of a new campaign that will help raise awareness, and reduce the impact, of the discrimination against people suffering from the disease.
A new £1.5 million unit, to be launched later this year, will find new and innovative ways to break down the barriers of discrimination against people in the Caribbean.
Welcoming the new initiative at a launch in the House of Commons today, Gareth Thomas said:
"Official figures tell us that there are a quarter of a million people infected with HIV in the Caribbean, but stigma, discrimination and ignorance of the disease mask the real extent of the problem.
"The truth is that with 19,000 related deaths and 27,000 new infections in 2006 the Caribbean faces the second largest problem from AIDS in the world, after Africa. It is already the leading cause of death of adults under 44.
"People living with HIV and AIDS face big enough challenges without the added burden of stigma and discrimination. I have witnessed first-hand the problems that people with HIV and AIDS around the world experience, treated as outcasts and shunned by their own family and friends.
"The new partnership with the ECB and UK Sport aims to reverse this and change the way people are treated, increase understanding and improve treatment of people living with the disease in the Caribbean."
David Collier, Chief Executive of the ECB, said:
"I am delighted that the Government is adding further impetus to the ECB/ICC HIV/AIDS awareness programme which has been running for a number of years. The new facility in the Caribbean will make a real difference to people’s lives.
"Cricket is followed by people around the world, from Jamaica to England and from India to South Africa. The ECB and our players are committed to raising awareness of the issues faced by people living with HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean. We would like to see more people learning about teamwork and inclusion through playing cricket, and our partnership with DFID means that together we can harness the power of cricket to tackle one of the toughest development challenges that the Caribbean faces."
England international cricketer Ian Bell said:
"When we play cricket, we have to pull together or we lose matches. If you know someone who is living with HIV, they are still part of the team. Keep supporting them and together you’ll keep winning."
John Scott from UK Sport said:
"We are delighted to be working in partnership to support this important initiative. Development through sport is a proven medium for educating young people and helping raise awareness of HIV/AIDS. In addition, sports stars act as powerful role models for young people, and it is fantastic to see professional players lending their voices to this important issue."
Notes for Editors
1. The partnership between DFID, the ECB and UK Sport will run from 2007 –
2010 and will involve profile raising work in the media and affected communities
by ECB players. The centre piece of the new partnership, a Stigma and
Discrimination Unit, will start work later this year (£1.5 million over three
years; also supported by the
German
Development Bank - KfW).
2. The Stigma and Discrimination Unit will be linked to the
University
of West Indies at the Cave Hill Campus, in Barbados, and will be managed by
the
Community
Health Action Trust, also based in Barbados.
3. The project will identify examples of best practice from within and outside of the region, working closely with people living with HIV and AIDS.
4. The partnership between DFID, the ECB and UK Sport will build on the
successful DFID funded ‘Champions for Change’ programme which worked with
PANCAP
(Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS) on
reducing HIV stigma and homophobia through
high-level commitment and support for stigmatised groups by public figures in
the Caribbean. Starting in November 2004, three major events have been held for
senior political leaders, sports and cultural icons; leaders of faith-based
organisations; and most recently owners and leading personalities from the
electronic and print media. These events have galvanised interest and
commitment, with a wide range of those attending signing up as "Champions for
Change".
5. HIV and AIDS continue to exact a heavy toll in the Caribbean. HIV/ AIDS is
the leading cause of death among adults in the 15 – 44 years age group in the
Caribbean. According to
regional
estimates, published by UNAIDS (December 2006) there are 250,000 adults and
children living with HIV and AIDS, with 27,000 newly infected during 2006. This
is likely to be an under estimate, as many of those infected are not aware of
their status. Deaths from AIDS (also under-reported because relatives resist
having HIV noted on death certificates) were reported at 19,000 last year.
Overall prevalence of HIV infection in the region is now at 1.2%.
6. Some factors which contribute to HIV/AIDS-related stigma are:
- HIV/AIDS is a life-threatening disease
- People are scared of contracting HIV
- The disease is associated with behaviours (such as sex between men and injecting drug-use) that are already stigmatised in many societies
- People living with HIV/AIDS are often thought of as being responsible for becoming infected
- Religious or moral beliefs lead some people to believe that having HIV/AIDS is the result of moral fault that deserves to be punished.
7.
UK
Sport’s International Development Assistance Programme supports projects
that foster sport and human development through sport. Working in partnership
with organisations and agencies across the world, UK Sport helps others to
create their own sporting systems. The focus is on using the power of sport to
help tackle issues such as improving health and fitness, developing education
for young people, and increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS.
8. The England and Wales Cricket Board have been active in working with the
ICC to promote their HIV Aids awareness programme. Last winter saw Ian Bell and
Andrew Strauss take on ambassador roles in promoting the programme in the West
Indies.
For further information, contact Sarah Saxton on 020 7023 0944 or 020 7023 0600,
e-mail pressoffice@dfid.gov.uk or
call our Public Enquiries Point on 0845 300 4100.
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